It is not a very well known fact, but alcohol is the number one cause of breast cancer among women who regularly drink.

Smoking is another frequent culprit.

Twenty-two percent of breast cancer occurs before age 50 and 78% among those 50 years and older.

Self-breast examination, once a week, or at least once a month, is highly recommended, and the gynecologist or attending physician could teach the patient the proper technique.

Those with menstruation should wait about 5 days after the period before doing self-breast exam.

For women 40 years and older, mammogram is recommended once a year.

For those with a family history of (grandmother, mother, aunt or sister having) cancer of the breast, mammogram is also done once a year even if they are younger than 40.

Influenza nasal swab

This is a convenient and painless diagnostic test (nasal cotton swab) performed in the physician’s office for the diagnosis of Influenza A or B, the most common variety of the flu.

When a patient comes in with high fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, and the swab is positive, it is reassuring for the patient and the physicians that the symptoms are due to influenza and not something else more serious.

All this is done within a few minutes in the office.

This eliminates the need for a chest X-ray and other tests and expensive antibiotics.

Vagifem for feminine dryness

An estrogen tablet that is inserted into the vagina (with the aid of a pencil-size introducer) to treat and relieve vaginal dryness, which interferes with sex.

Usually prescribed for post-menopausal women, Vagifem may also be used for any woman with this problem.

Although it predominantly acts topically and is only minimally absorbed into the system, the tablet is not recommended for those with a history of phlebitis or blood clots in the legs, or history of stroke, heart attack and cancer.

This effective and welcome aid to feminine dryness must be used under a physician’s supervision.

Indiscriminate use of antibiotics dangerous

Antibiotics must be used properly where indicated.

To use them for viral infections (like common colds or influenza), or for other conditions which they are not effective for anyway, or for illnesses where the bacteria are not sensitive to it them, is not only a waste of money but outright dangerous.

Microorganisms develop resistance to the antibiotics when exposed to them frequently.

Eventually, the antibiotics will no longer be effective in fighting future infections in this particular person, thus dramatically increasing the risk to life at that point.

Anti-cancer: Exercise and veggies

Women who don’t smoke, and who eat vegetable-rich diet and exercise daily cut their cancer risk by 30%, reported the World Cancer research Fund International and the American Institute for Cancer Research.

The studies also recommend the following habits to prevent chronic diseases: abstinence from tobacco; moderation in alcohol intake; limiting red meat, fat and salt; gaining not more than 11 pounds after age 18; exercising daily; eating five or more portions of vegetables and fruits daily.

Eating salads loaded with meat or eggs or dressings with a lot of fats defeats the purpose.

Salad with a little oil and vinegar is preferred.

Veggies combined

And talking about vegetables, a combination of broccoli and mushrooms have been found to have a more powerful cancer-fighting properties than when eaten alone.

Studies suggest that certain nutrients, when combined, become more effective anti-cancer agents.

Selenium (found in mushrooms, nuts, sunflower seeds) and Sulforaphane (broccoli, watercress and cabbage) are two such nutrients.

Ginger has two anti-cancer compounds in it: 6-gingerol and 6-paradol.

These substances help inhibit cell transformations that could lead to the formation of cancer.

The higher concentration of these ingredients are found in fresh ginger.

The fresher, the better.

Once again, mother was right...all along.

Veggies and fruits are good for us.

Helping others improve longevity

A recent report of a 5-year study among older people revealed that those in the habit of helping others, providing support, love and care to friends or family were 60% less likely to die, compared to “unhelpful” people.

This includes running errands, assisting in house chores, childcare, etc.

It suggests that having a purpose and serving such objective are healthy for the body, not only for the soul.

This, of course, is not limited to the older people only.

DEXA scan for bone thinning

Osteopenia, a decreased in calcification and density of bone and characterized by thinning and weakening is very rampant.

This predisposes the person, usually a female, to osteoporosis, and frequent bone fractures, which could happen spontaneously and become life-threatening.

Daily exercises and drinking milk, taking calcium supplements, abstinence from cigarettes, by both genders, but more especially among women, will go a long way in the prevention of osteopenia and, eventually, osteoporosis.

To detect osteopenia, DEXA scan, a bone scan, can be performed.

As a person gets older, bone health becomes even more essential.

Fibrocystic disease of the breast

The incidence of fibrocystic disease of the breast among women is about 50% worldwide.

The most common palpable masses, even in the young females, are due to fibrocystic condition, which is benign.

However, when any persistent or suspicious lump is felt, especially in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, medical consultation is recommended, to rule out malignancy.

Those with fibrocystic disease have 2-3% higher incidence of cancer compared to the general population.